Postcards Magazine
Piney Woods
September 2026
Terry Scoggin • Yellowstone/Grand Teton • Nick Stevens • First Financial Bank
Contents September 2026 | Volume 16, Issue 9
Piney Woods | September 2026
Features Terry Scoggin Trippin'
Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks Inspirations
Nick Stevens
Advertiser Anniversaries ......................12 Calendar - Making Tracks.....................80 Dear Gabby............................................ 43 Feedback ................................................. 8 Funspace ............................................... 64 Giggles & Grins ..................................... 58 Glorious Grandchildren .......................40 Kidspeak ............................................... 36 Library Picks......................................... 10
BUSINESS FOCUS
Milestones ............................................. 29 Mustard Seed Moments ....................... 82 Pet Pals .................................................. 62 Puzzle Solutions.................................... 25 “Seens” from Our World........................ 26
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14 30 54
Do You Know?
Favorites
Snapshots..............................................20 Star Students ........................................ 22
70 First Financial Bank
Columns
Publisher’s Post ...................................... 6 Sean of the South ...................................37 Medical Matters .................................... 38 Garden Post ..........................................44 Wildlife Wonders .................................. 74 Your Best AgriLife ................................. 76
Sudoku Marketspace ............................ 68 Tasty Bites ............................................. 46 Teachers Touching Tomorrow ..............21 Things My Granddaddy Said........................24
On The Cover 2025 Postcards Photo Contest Submission
Cover Photo by Denise Henderson
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Publisher’s Post Whining and Dining Piney Woods | September 2026
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y husband and I recently found ourselves having dinner at a beautiful historic inn in the Northeast while on vacation. It was one of those places with creaky wood floors, low ceilings, soft lighting, and enough history in the walls to make you wonder who had dined there through the centuries. We thought we’d simply be enjoying a nice dinner. Instead, the special that evening wasn’t on the menu. It was a generous helping of whining with our dining. The hostess seated us at a table right next to another couple who appeared to be a decade or so older than we were. Mind you, the restaurant had plenty of empty tables. We looked around wondering why, of all the places available, we were placed within arm’s reach of strangers. It didn’t take long to find out the couple was on a date. We know this because they told each other… loudly. Very loudly. In fact, by the time our appetizers arrived, we knew they had met at the local senior center. By the time our entrées arrived, we knew he’d recently suffered from back spasms and a bout of gout. A few bites later, we learned he’d had something removed from his ear by the dermatologist. They had found another suspicious spot, removed it, and now he was sporting a Band-Aid. He noticed how tan she looked and guessed she’d been walking more. She seemed pleased that he’d noticed. We also learned about his knees, her ankles, his cataract surgery (one eye down and one to go), and the fact that she no longer likes driving at night because she just can’t see well enough. There wasn’t a medical chart in sight, but there certainly wasn’t any HIPAA in effect either. Somewhere around dessert, I realized something. When we’re young, we impress each other with stories about adventures, careers, dreams, and places we’ve been. As life moves along, our stories change. They become conversations about doctor’s appointments, aches that come and go, medications that finally worked, surgeries that went well, and whether the new knee is behaving today.
At first, I couldn’t help but chuckle. But then I found it unexpectedly sweet. Here were two people who had found each other later in life. They weren’t pretending to be twenty-five. They weren’t trying to impress anyone. They simply showed up exactly as they were—Band-Aids, cataracts, sore joints, and all. And someone wanted to hear every bit of it. That thought was driven home later that evening when we joined a crowd on the lawn for a concert. We heard someone behind us say, “I can’t see them.” Without missing a beat, their companion replied, “It’s music…you don’t need to see!” We laughed out loud. Maybe that’s one of the quiet gifts of growing older. You stop worrying so much about perfect circumstances and simply enjoy being there… together. As for Wes and me, we left smiling. It’s not exactly the stuff Hallmark writes greeting cards about. But if we’re fortunate enough to reach that season ourselves, I hope we’ll still be sitting across the table from one another…talking a little too loudly…and grateful that someone still wants to listen.
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routes and are unable to add only one or two addresses on a route we are not currently delivering (If you share your address, it will help us look at potential route adjustments). HOWEVER, there are a few options for you! As you know, we have several rack locations at area businesses where you may pick one up free while available. We also make all of our issues available free online at www.PostcardsLive.com but we understand there are still people who really like to HOLD it! If you would still prefer the convenience of having one delivered to you in your mailbox, we do offer subscription rates at $24 for 6 months or $36 per year for the issue of your choice (Piney Woods, Lake Conroe, or Hometown). It basically just helps offset our postage and supplies cost to mail individually.
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The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey BY ASTRID DAHL
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Advertiser Anniversaries
Walker's Café
109 McGilberry Mechanical
Founded 1917
35
-Mr. Roach THE EXPERTS IN
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Who knew pest control could be this efficient?!
PEST CONTROL
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Piney Woods | September 2026
SINCE 1981!
Alpha Omega Academy
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Montessori Child Care and Elementary 6 wks to 12 yrs. old
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Tomorrows Promise Founded 1997
Founded 1997
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Sam Houston Funeral Home
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Founded 2008
Founded 2002
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Serving Huntsville and Madisonville for more than 40 years! Rodent Control
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DO YOU KNOW?
Terry
Scoggin The new HMH CEO talks about needs, growth, and the challenges of being a “tweener.” BY CLAUDIA KIRKWOOD | PHOTOS BY TOM MILLER
“H
untsville has embraced us with welcoming arms,” a sentiment expressed by Terry Scoggin, the new Chief Executive Officer of Huntsville Memorial Hospital. “My wife Tracie and I love it here and are so thrilled to be making our home in Huntsville and Walker County.” Let’s get acquainted with one of our newest community members and see what plans he has in store for this essential cornerstone to the life and well-being of our communities.
Piney Woods | September 2026
We must build a strong community healthcare system to support the needs of this area.
”
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on the delivery of healthcare centered on segmented patient populations, delivering high-value care advancing equity across diverse communities. My jobs over the years have taught me the value of creating relationships, a passion which has served me well throughout my career.
Please share your background. I was born in Austin and raised in the East Texas city of Palestine. My father was an accountant, and my mother was the secretary of the local First Baptist Church. I attended Texas A&M University as a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, earning a degree in accounting. I received my Certified Public Accountant designation in 1995. In 2023, I received my master’s degree in health care transformation from the University of Texas at Austin. The program focused
Tell us more about your career and what brought you to Huntsville. I worked with multiple tech companies and startups in the Austin area, having some great experiences that I did not realize were preparing me for a future in healthcare. In the spring of 2004, I moved my family to Mount Pleasant, Texas, accepting a role as a vice president at the local bank, which led to me becoming a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and then a Certified Trust Financial Analyst (CTFA). In 2012, I took the position of Chief Financial Officer and was later promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Titus Regional Medical Center
(TRMC) in Mount Pleasant, where I led the second largest independent rural hospital in Texas. In 2025, I took the Interim CEO position with the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals (TORCH) while the permanent CEO led a special project for the Governor’s Office. TORCH provides advocacy for the 156 rural hospitals in Texas. I visited many rural communities and hospitals throughout the state, advocating for rural healthcare and was given the opportunity to be on stage alongside Governor Abbott when he signed two of the largest bills in history supporting the rural hospitals of Texas. In January 2026, I was asked to serve as interim CEO of Huntsville Memorial Hospital (HMH). After the first few weeks, my wife and I realized this was a place we wanted to call home. After the extensive interview process, we were honored to be given the opportunity for me to serve as the permanent CEO of HMH.
What do you see as the most critical healthcare needs for our community? Walker County is a diverse community, and HMH is what I refer to as a “tweener.” It is too big to be small, and too small to be big, providing both opportunities and challenges in a complex healthcare organization. We must build a strong community healthcare system to support the needs of this area. I have experience in understanding the impact a community hospital can deliver as the foundation for health transformation. A few of our goals and objectives currently include the following:
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GOAL: We need to develop a sustainable healthcare model allowing us to retain local decisionmaking authority. It is a ver sq y narrow road to be successful as a community hospital. Reduced payments by insurance companies to rural hospitals, increased denials by corporate healthcare, and constraints placed by economies of scale create substantial obstacles. Healthcare finance is a convoluted puzzle with many pieces. We must continue
September 2026 | Piney Woods
Terry Scoggin shaking hands with Andy Brauninger, former mayor of Huntsville, who is a volunteer at Huntsville Memorial Hospital
GOAL: Developing trust with the community, our physicians, our team, and our affiliates. This is done through communication, being asked the tough questions, and keeping the community informed. One avenue planned to meet this goal is through a regular “Coffee Chat” at local restaurants. These chats will be advertised on social media and with the help of our community partners. I want to be accessible to hear opinions and ideas from the public. Listening and telling the HMH story is critical.
GOAL: Service lines such as cardiology, maternal services, orthopedics, critical care, emergency services, and family medicine need to continue to be strengthened and developed. Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S. and in OUR community and must be the immediate focus of our growth and development. The capacity constraints of the current six-bed ICU limit the ability to grow this service line and attract the clinical teams necessary to perform specific procedures for immediate care. We are currently working with the Walker County Hospital District (WCHD) to develop ICU expansion options that fit OUR community.
Piney Woods | September 2026
to advocate at the state level for community hospitals while continuing to partner with local stakeholders to ensure financial success. We have laid the foundations with many of these organizations and will continue to work with the local community to strengthen our financial future.
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GOAL: HMH now offers three local physicians delivering babies in OUR community. The recent addition of a second OB/GYN and a female family medicine physician with additional OB/GYN qualification allows women of Walker County more access for care close to home. Our goal is to continue to improve offerings for the women of this community through investments in advanced mammography, women’s imaging, and diagnostic programs. Are there relationships in place to assist in meeting your goals? HMH has a great foundation made up of excellent physicians and team members, local affiliates, and strong ties with other health institutions and providers. HMH can choose the right partner when a higher level of care is needed, and we take that seriously. We are also blessed with solid relationships with Sam Houston State University, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Walker County Chamber of Commerce, local government entities, local school districts, local community organizations, and local businesses. We value these relationships, deem them vital to our mission, and are grateful for the assets they provide this hospital. ASSET: We have a partnership with the Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine providing a new class of four Family Medicine residents at HMH each year (resulting in an ongoing total of twelve); two Family Medicine/Sports Medicine Fellows; and are also part of a local consortium starting a Psychiatry residency this semester, bringing four new psychiatrists to campus each year (resulting in an ongoing total of sixteen). Our goal is to attract physicians who
will become a part of the HMH future and the local community beyond the completion of their residency. ASSET: HMH is excited to partner in the fall with Sam Houston State University and Huntsville ISD to be the official healthcare partner for their athletics programs. These partnerships will allow HMH to continue to grow and develop the Sports Medicine and Orthopedic programs. How will the projected local growth impact our hospital? The Golden Triangle continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, and Walker County is reaping the benefits of this growth. We will focus on the development and investments on the critical service lines to ensure continued access to care locally, minimizing the need to seek care in the Houston metropolitan area. We invite conversations on all these topics and encourage our local community members to ask questions, especially the tough questions. Collaboration is critical to the success of our healthcare landscape.
Please summarize your thoughts on this new position. My passion is rural and community healthcare. I witnessed the closing of four surrounding rural hospitals in East Texas and saw the devastation that followed to families who counted on the care given by these institutions. I witnessed firsthand how a community hospital well aligned with local stakeholders saved lives during the COVID pandemic. Community healthcare is personal. You go to work, church, the grocery store, the ballfield, etc. every day with the same people you are given the opportunity to care for. I am incredibly grateful, humbled, and blessed by the opportunity to lead our extraordinary team at HMH. My focus is clear: keep HMH financially resilient and positioned to grow. You have my word on two things. I will pour every ounce of energy into making sure HMH thrives. I will also work relentlessly every single day for our hospital, our people, and OUR community.
A NEW SEASON. THE SAME FAITHFUL GOD. Seasons change. Schedules change. Life changes. But the One we build our lives upon does not. Come grow with us.
BELIEVE. BELONG. BE LOVED. You belong at HCOC. Huntsville Church of Christ 3737 Hwy 30 West • Huntsville 936 • 295 • 3884
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Snapshots
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More than 200 current and prospective students participated in Windham School District's College and Career Day at the TDCJ Coffield Unit campus in Tennessee Colony on Aug. 7
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member SIPC
Ken Holland Financial Advisor 130 Col. Etheredge Blvd. • Suite D2 Huntsville, TX 77340 (936) 755-8086 edwardjones.com edwardjones.com/financial-advisor/kenholland
Email: ken.holland@edwardjones.com s
Preparing for and Living in Retirement
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Saving for Education
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Assist with 401k, 403b, 457, Optional Retirement Plans and more.
Teachers Touching Tomorrow Honoring teachers who work with our kids day in and day out. They go above and beyond, and really do “Touch Tomorrow.”
Huntsville High School World Geography, Golf NOMINATED BY
Mr. Mims made a difference in my education by always being willing to help me whenever I had questions about an assignment or project we had in his class. He always took the time to explain things to me again whenever I didn’t understand them the first time, which made me confident in my work and more confident in my abilities. Mr. Mims also made class enjoyable and created an environment to make learning fun. I always looked forward to his class.
Nominate a special teacher today by going online: www.PostcardsLive.com. Those chosen for publication are awarded a gift card to 1836 Steakhouse.
Sponsored by:
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Flor Vazquez
September 2026 | Piney Woods
Jeff Mims
Star Students
Piney Woods | September 2026
Brianna Johnson
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Huntsville High School FAVORITE MOVIE:
The Chosen
FAVORITE MUSIC/ARTIST:
Eugene Izotov
FAVORITE FOOD:
Street Tacos
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need.” - Buechner Brianna is a senior at Huntsville High School. Her activities include band, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Band of Believers, and Mu Alpha Theta. Following graduation, Brianna plans to serve God and make a positive impact on others through music and ministry. She believes, “Life is less about what we accomplish and more about having a relationship with Christ and learning to love others well.”
Lilly Cauthen
Flor Vazquez
FAVORITE MOVIE:
FAVORITE MOVIE:
FAVORITE MUSIC/ARTIST:
FAVORITE MUSIC/ARTIST:
FAVORITE FOOD:
FAVORITE FOOD:
FAVORITE QUOTE:
FAVORITE QUOTE:
Lilly is a senior at Huntsville High School and is the daughter of Billy and Jackalyn Cauthen. Her activities include FFA Secretary, youth council president for Christ the King Methodist Church, shopping, listening to music, and hanging out with friends and family. Following graduation, Lilly plans to continue her education and explore career opportunities. She believes, “Live for yourself and God. Don’t spend time trying to impress everyone around you.”
Flor is a senior at Huntsville High School and is the daughter of Socorro Almanza and Jose Vazquez. Her activities include Grenadier Guard Drill Team, student council, and criminal justice. Following graduation, Flor plans to attend college and pursue a degree in criminal justice, then study law. She believes, “You shouldn’t rush your life, because everything is going to happen in its own time. Be patient and trust God’s timing.”
Huntsville High School Grown Ups
Noah Kahan
Chicken Strips
“You do dumb things, you get dumb results!”
A negative mind will never give you a positive life.”
”
Huntsville High School The Fast and the Furious Justin Bieber
Chicken Alfredo “A negative mind will never give you a positive life.”
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Things My Granddaddy Said If a Texas woman says, "What did you say?", she isn't asking you to repeat it. She's asking you if you're good with Jesus...cause you're about to meet Him.
She's as wild as a June bug on a string. A rooster one day, and a feather duster the next.
Piney Woods | September 2026
A bachelor is a man who never makes the same mistake.
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You’re so worrisome, you could wear the horns off a billy goat.
~ Tonie Sikes Publisher Karen Altom and her Granddaddy J.C. Farris
I’m 83 years old. I don’t even buy green bananas anymore!
~ Daniel Weaver
As I grow older, more and more often I find myself saying, “Like my Granddaddy used to say…” In an effort to keep some of these old sayings alive, we are sharing them here. Please feel free to share yours with us!
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September 2026 | Piney Woods
Sudoku #8 5 6 4 9 2 8 1 5 9 7 3 2 4 5 7 6 6 3 9 7 1 2 8 3 8 4 5 1 3 1 2 8 7 9 6 4
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Piney Woods | September 2026
“Seens” from Our World
y! Sounds down and dirt
Seen by: PC Staff
Finally, truth in advert ising! Seen by: PC Staff
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Share Your Milestones!
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Milestones
Walker Altom
their 50th anniversary
kindergarten!
celebrated
completed
September 2026 | Piney Woods
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Yellowstone an Piney Woods | September 2026
Nationa
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“Old Faithful” doesn’t even begin to tell the story… in this case, one pair is a winning hand! STORY AND PHOTOS BY RUTH FIELDS
M
illions of people travel every year to the far northwest corner of Wyoming to visit two of America’s most popular national parks. Many of them come from distant parts of the world. In May, my husband and I succumbed to wanderlust and set off to see Yellowstone and Grand Teton for ourselves.
World’s first national park
When geologist Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden’s team returned from their expedition of the Yellowstone region in 1871, they presented their findings— including photographs and paintings of stunning hydrothermal activity—to a fascinated U.S. Congress. On March
1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law. This made Yellowstone the first national park in the world and set a global example of ecological preservation. Yellowstone is one of America’s largest national parks, but before our
nd Grand Teton
September 2026 | Piney Woods
al Parks
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Piney Woods | September 2026
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visit, we didn’t fully grasp its vastness. Yellowstone comprises about 3,472 square miles—roughly the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. (Most of the park is in Wyoming, but parts extend into Montana and Idaho.) It takes time to explore Yellowstone, but fortunately, we met a friendly park volunteer who helped us get the most out of our allotted days. Yellowstone’s 142-mile Grand Loop Road resembles a figure eight. Nine villages (most with lodging, restaurants, gift shops, and visitor information centers) are situated along this scenic route. Yellowstone is diverse, and each village highlights the area’s main attractions. For example, Canyon Village is near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone; Lake Village is on the bank of Yellowstone Lake (which, at approximately 136 square miles, is the largest high-altitude freshwater lake in North America). Mammoth Hot Springs has unique hydrothermal formations and is the site of historic Fort Yellowstone, where the U.S. Army stationed soldiers from 1886 until 1918 to discourage poachers, squatters, and vandals. Old Faithful Village has several lodges that surround the famous geyser, including Old Faithful Inn, which was built in 1903 through 1904 with local logs and stones. The inn has a seven-story lobby and is considered the largest log structure in the world. It is a National Historic Landmark. At the top is the Crow’s Nest, where musicians
One of the many hot springs
once played for guests below. It was closed after a strong 1959 earthquake damaged some of the support timbers, but the bottom two floors are open to the public.
Beyond Old Faithful
Old Faithful is perhaps the bestknown attraction at Yellowstone, but contrary to popular belief, it is not entirely punctual; furthermore, earthquakes over the years have made eruptions less frequent. Eruptions occur approximately every 90 minutes, but can be as much as two hours apart. Park staffers note the duration of each eruption, which helps them predict the next one, give or take about 12 minutes. After eruptions, spectators applaud. There are more than 500 geysers in the park, which is more than half the world’s total. In fact, thanks to an ancient supervolcano, Yellowstone boasts the most extensive collection of hydrothermal features in the world, numbering more than 10,000. Hot springs—such as the intensely vibrant Grand Prismatic Spring—are strangely colorful because of microorganisms that thrive in heat. Fumaroles, which spew steam into the air from small holes in the earth, are also common. Hydrothermal features, however, are not Yellowstone’s only claim to fame. The mountains and lush valleys are serene, and the rivers that meander through the park create impressive waterfalls. Some are only a short walk from main roads. The largest and
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River
most famous is the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, which roars 308 feet to the floor of the yellow and orange Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We braved the hike to the brink, which drops 600 feet in just 3/8ths of a mile. My husband predicted that the hike would be “all sizzle and no steak,” but conceded that the view was a “16-ounce ribeye” and worth the steep climb back to the trailhead. Nathaniel P. Langford, an early explorer, noted the waterfall’s grandeur, as well as his fear of its power, in his 1873 report: “I thought how utterly impossible it would be to describe to another the sensations inspired by such a presence. . . I felt as never before my entire dependence upon that Almighty Power who had wrought these wonders.” Yellowstone is also known for an abundance of wildlife. Grizzly bears inhabit the park, as does a large, thriving black bear population. (Bear spray is a must!) Elk are often spotted, although moose sightings are less common. The park is also home to wolves, coyotes, pronghorns, ospreys, bald eagles and many other species. And bison. Poachers once nearly eliminated them altogether, but after decades of conservation, Yellowstone now has the nation’s largest freeroaming population of wild bison on public lands. Thousands of bison roam the hillsides and valleys; some even cross roads. The park has two herds of bison—one in Lamar Valley in the northeast sector, and one in Hayden
Valley, in the central part. These valleys are great places to watch for other wildlife, too. In addition to countless bison, we saw bears, elk, pronghorn, osprey, harlequin ducks, and Canada geese. There are many other things to see and do at Yellowstone. Some visitors explore the intriguing sights along the main roads, where they can cross the Continental Divide three times. The park also attracts hikers, campers,
Elk grazing in Yellowstone
wildlife photographers, snowmobilers and fishermen. (To fish, obtain a permit at recreation.gov.) Yellowstone does not currently require reservations, so be prepared for crowds. In 2025, Yellowstone recorded more than 4.7 million visits. Parking lots can fill quickly, and traffic sometimes comes to a complete stop at “bear jams” when visitors spot wildlife. To avoid the rush, consider visiting during spring or autumn, although
some park roads may be closed. It also helps to go early in the day. Texas visitors have an advantage: because we are accustomed to Central Time, it’s easier for us to arrive before roads become congested.
Grand Teton National Park
Adjacent to Yellowstone on its south side, Grand Teton National Park is a separate park that requires its own entrance fee. At about 484 square
Northern view, Yellowstone
September 2026 | Piney Woods
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Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
miles, it is only about one-seventh the size of Yellowstone, but it packs a big punch. The jagged Teton Mountains rise abruptly and majestically nearly 7,000 feet from the valley of Jackson Hole and overlook all areas of the park. Grand Teton, the tallest peak and the park’s namesake, is 13,775 feet above sea level. The centerpiece of the park is the 1,191-acre Jenny Lake, which was formed by glaciers. It was named for Jenny Leigh, a Shoshone woman who was the wife of an English trapper and a guide for the 1872 expedition of the
Piney Woods | September 2026
Morman Row
area. Some visitors hike around the lake (possibly spotting moose along the way), while others take a boat shuttle across to visit Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. Jackson Lake, in the northern reaches of the park, is much larger, but Jenny Lake remains one of the most-visited and mostphotographed attractions in Grand Teton. Meanwhile, photographers also flock to Morman Row, which is known for a handful of early-20th century log homes and two quaint barns built by early settlers. Like Yellowstone, Grand Teton has
scenic roads that take visitors to views of incredible beauty. The park is also known for its wildlife. Besides a large moose population, there are bison, elk, grizzly and black bears, pronghorns, bald eagles, yellow-bellied marmots, beavers and river otters.
In retrospect
It isn’t particularly easy to get from Texas to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. A road trip takes about 24 hours. Flights to nearby cities require connections and can be expensive; those who take non-stop flights to international hubs spend significant time on the road after landing. Most people, however, seem to think these parks are worth the effort. We agree. For more information, visit nps.gov/ yell and nps.gov/grte.
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Kidspeak 5-yo came home after school and proudly announced that he was giving up bedtime for Lent. Nice try, little dude. But no. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Me: Stop smacking your brother's butt! 8-yo: He wants me to! Me: Not saying 'no' is not the same thing as saying 'yes.'
Piney Woods | September 2026
8-yo (to brother): Do you want me to smack your butt?
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Toddler: Yes. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• On the first day of teaching school, I went over the list classroom rules and procedures. A kid in the back mumbled, "This could have been an email." I am now encouraging him to be a school principal when he grows up. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• "I've never gotten in trouble at daycare, ever. I just went to timeout two...no, three times today." - Cordelia, age 5 Garrett Carson •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• My 2-yo just looked outside and exclaimed, "My rock is growing so fast!" And then my 9-yo whispered to me, "I swap it out for a larger rock when she isn't looking." •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• On today's episode of being a parent: I told my 2-yo I need privacy, and she says, "Me too, let's have that together." •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• My son is in the 4th grade. He had to make sure he had a nice button up shirt clean for school tomorrow. When I asked him why, he said, "Because my friends are getting married at recess, and I was invited to be in the crowd, so I want to look nice."
Sean of the South
Not One Penny More
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“Worth every penny.” “It costs a pretty penny.” “Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you have good luck.” But that’s all over now. So are the archaic practices of finding a penny on a sidewalk and inspecting the date which is representative of a loved one reaching from across the other side. I cannot tell you how many pennies I have found which have been emblazoned with my father’s birth-year, 1953, on their surfaces. I found one such penny atop Pikes Peak as I visited his ashes. The irony is, my dad was a penny pincher. He’d get very bent out of shape if you didn’t save your pocket-change in his gigantic glass jug of pennies. He’d been saving for years. And one fateful day, when his pitiful-first-basemen-of-a-son expressed interest in playing piano, the old man broke his beloved jug with a hammer. He and my mother sifted pennies on the floor of our garage. Those pennies, that jug, that secondhand piano, they ended up changing my life. I think of what the penny meant to my ancestors. My grandparents endured two world wars and a Great Depression. They were impoverished. My great-grandmother earned 20 cents for giving piano lessons. My grandfather worked at a filling station where gasoline was 15 cents per gallon. Tenant farmers like them kept their pennies and dimes in biscuit tins, buried in the backyard. My father’s great-grandfather came to America from the old country. He was German. He spoke no English, and didn’t have “a penny to his name.” My mother’s ancestors, Scot-Irish, likely worked in coal mines, dirt farms, sawmills, and cotton gins, and textile mills, “working for pennies.” I have always felt linked to my ancestors through the few common practices and items our cultures still share. Paper books. Porch swings. Checkers. Listening to an old fiddle. Seeing a grandfather teach his granddaughter to dance while the band plays. Making fresh bread. Building a snowman. Sipping hot coffee from a saucer. Storytelling on a winter night. Baking a turkey, with family in the house. Or finding a lost penny with the date 1953. I will miss the American penny. But more than that, I will forever miss who we used to be. Just my two cents.
September 2026 | Piney Woods
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he last penny has been minted. The humble American “pence” shall be no more. It’s too expensive to produce. It just doesn’t make sense. No pun implied. The penny costs roughly four cents to manufacture. It’s simply not efficient. The Treasury Department released a statement: “...Ongoing increases in production costs and the evolution in consumer habits and technology have made [penny] production financially untenable.” And so, as we march onward, toward a sterilized and cashless world, soulless and artificially intelligent, riddled with “bit coins,” whatever those are, I think about the humble penny. I think of its role in the world I once knew. The U.S. penny has been produced since 1787. Each penny incarnation has borne different likenesses. A woman’s head with flowing hair, jingling in the coin purses of Minute Men who carried Brown Bess muskets. A bald eagle, with wings sprawled, tucked tightly in the money belt of a Californian miner during the goldrush of ‘49. An Indian head, adorned with ceremonial feathers, resting in the pocket of a Union soldier as he lay dying in a remote field at Shiloh. The profile of the Great Emancipator himself, used at soda fountains by young men in uniform before shipping out to wallop Hitler. The penny has been here, almost from the beginning. Ben Franklin wrote about them. “A penny saved is a penny earned.” George Washington wrote in a famous letter once: “In for a penny, in for a pound.” Not to mention all the other well-known quotes about pennies often used: “Penny for your thoughts.”
Sean Dietrich
Medical Matters
Back-to-School: It’s Stressing Me Out!
Piney Woods | September 2026
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emember the pure joy of back-to-school shopping, when picking the newest, coolest 5-subject notebook was the perfect start to a new adventure? For many, heading back to school brings excitement with new teachers, classes, and opportunities waiting to be explored. For others, however, the final weeks of summer are filled with worry as the new school year draws near. If you are feeling some of that anxiety, you are not alone. Students worry about new teachers, classroom expectations, managing new schedules, and friendships. Parents juggle school supply lists, paperwork, transportation, extracurricular activities, work responsibilities, and the challenge of getting everyone back into a routine. Stress has a way of spreading through a family. When one person feels overwhelmed, everyone can be affected. Children might be quiet, irritable, or more emotional. Parents may notice they have less patience. This can result in small things becoming big issues…a misplaced lunchbox or forgotten permission slip can feel like a family emergency. If this sounds familiar, remember these reactions are a normal part of change. Whenever our routines, schedules, or social interactions shift, it’s common to feel stressed or anxious. You’re not doing anything wrong; you are simply adjusting to a new season. Stress doesn’t look the same in everyone. Some people get stomachaches or headaches while others become tired, moody, withdrawn, or unusually emotional. These reactions can happen to both children and adults. No one is immune to the challenges that come with changing routines. Fortunately, there are several things families can do to make the transition easier.
Karen Nelson, PhD SHSU Physicians
• Start your routine now. Begin shifting bedtime and wake-up times towards the school schedule before the first day of class. Even a few days of adjustment can make the first week much smoother. • Create predictable routines. Regular times for waking up, meals, homework, and bedtime help children know what to expect. Preparing meals, backpacks, and clothes the night before can also reduce stressful mornings and lastminute scrambling. • Protect sleep. Children and adults cope with stress better when they are well rested. Prioritizing good sleep is one of the simplest ways to support everyone’s well-being. • Make room for conversation. Try asking questions like, “What was the best part of your day?” or “Was anything harder than you expected?” At the same time, resist the urge to turn every car ride into an interview. Sometimes, silence, music, or simply being together is enough. Pay attention to yourself and your children. If worries become persistent, stomachaches continue without a medical explanation, your child refuses to go to school, or you notice major mood or behavior changes, it may be time to seek additional support. Your physician, school counselor, or mental health professional can help determine what’s happening and recommend next steps. Remember, the start of the new year is a beginning. And with anything new, it takes time to find your rhythm. Give yourself and your family permission to adjust, enjoy the daily adventures, and celebrate the small victories along the way. Know that a few challenging days now can become the foundation for a successful and rewarding school year.
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Glorious Grandchildren
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Daniel Ray Christopher L.
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Denise & Jerry Flores
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Celebrating 50 Years
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Dear Gabby
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Welcome back to the September 2026 edition of the Dear Gabby advice column. Labor Day is September 7 and honors the American labor movement and workers; Patriot Day is September 11 and remembers those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks; Constitution Day is September 17 and celebrates the adoption of the U.S. Constitution; and National POW/MIA Recognition Day is the 18th (always the 3rd Friday in September, and honors missing and prisoner of war service members). Now, before we pumpkin spice the planet, let’s not forget summer isn’t over until Tuesday, September 22. Fall will be most welcome--especially if it brings cooler weather! Any questions? Send them to me by clicking on Dear Gabby at www.PostcardsLive.com/share. DEAR GABBY I think I remember from last season that you are no fan of pumpkin spice. Well, everyone is entitled to their wrong opinion. Who needs a prince when you can have a pumpkin? SPICE GIRL
Leggings, leaves, and lattes, oh my! Please don’t offer me anything pumpkin spice. I’m not one of those. I am well aware that I am outnumbered in the pumpkin spice latte game, but I am entitled to my opinion. My opinion was formed for good reasons. I once spilled a pumpkin spice latte on the ground,
GABBY
CONFIDENTIAL TO “SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO TALK!”: Maybe she wanted to do the talking. Listen and silent are spelled with the same letters. Think about that.
September 2026 | Piney Woods
DEAR SG
and a bunch of ants started making brunch plans and doing yoga. I was behind a woman in the pharmacy line this week, and she asked the pharmacist if her medication came in pumpkin spice flavor. She was told to pick up her meds and move along. You know those white pumpkins popular now? They are regular pumpkins that are drained of their spice by illegal poachers. If you are “one of those,” please demand ethically sourced pumpkin spice lattes. That spice is in everything! If I see pumpkin spice bologna in the grocery store, I’m fasting until January.
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The Garden Post
A New
Beginning Piney Woods | September 2026
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eptember, the beginning of the second season of gardening! One of the best months to garden in Texas, hands down. Time to start planning your fall and winter vegetable gardens and landscapes. But, you can still count on your summer warriors to add a little color to help carry you through the rest of the summer. Here are some summer heroes. Lantana, a perennial that comes in an array of color combinations. It’s an excellent attractant for all pollinators, hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Periwinkles also come in a multitude of colors and forms, upright, trailing, and miniatures. And don’t forget about these summer troopers: zinnias, Mexican heather, and tropical hibiscus. Check with your local nursery for availability and possible sales! Planning a vegetable garden? Some excellent coolseason choices are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, greens, kale, and lettuces. Good root crops to plant from seed are radishes, turnips, carrots, and beets. Herbs can still be planted, too! Most varieties produce attractive blooms that add color to the garden, while trailing types bring texture and visual interest to the landscape. Remember to rotate your crops each season to help reduce pests and disease while keeping your soil healthy. Time to evaluate your landscape. Fall is a great time to plant ornamental grasses, shrubs, and trees. This allows their root systems to become better established before next year’s summer heat stress. You may need to move plants that didn’t do well in their existing location. Or you might have to replace or add plants. Be thinking about what cool-season color you want to plant later. Some good choices are snapdragons, stock, and ornamental kale/cabbage. Followed by pansies and violas later. Mum alert!!! Chrysanthemums will soon be available in a rainbow of colors and sizes! Have a game plan before going to your local nursery. Do your homework and get ideas of what plants, shrubs, or trees you like that would do well in your area. Take pictures of existing landscape and know the
Ginger Vybiral Bobo’s Nursery Buffalo, Texas
measurements of your garden beds. Know what direction all your beds face to consider sun exposure. If you come prepared, it will be easy for them to assist you in making the best choices for your yard. Late September is the time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn to prevent uninvited weedy guests mingling with your lawn grasses. Brown patch can be treated with a fungicide in late September and again in mid-October. Possible reasons for brown patch could be attributed to overwatering or over-fertilizing. Just because we may get a break from the heat doesn’t mean we can stop watering. If we don’t have consistent rain, our soil will be dry and needs to be kept moist. Yellow leaves don’t always mean fall foliage. You can still prune roses back by 1/3 to have a beautiful fall show. Deadhead any spent blooms on your annuals and perennials, as well as dead leaves and stalks. Cut back herbs that are looking ragged; they’ll put back out fresh new growth. Begin dividing your bulbs, relocate or give to neighbors and friends; you’ll be everyone’s best friend! Fertilize any new annuals, perennials, and ornamental grasses. Hold off on fertilizing shrubs and trees; they need to slow down on their growth and prepare for dormancy. Now that cooler temps are possible, be on the lookout for diseases. Powdery mildew loves our area this time of year due to our high humidity. Two main hangouts for mildew are your roses and St. Augustine grass. Gray leaf spot and brown patch, which we’ve touched on earlier, need to be kept under control and treated. The middle of September is the last month to treat the demonic nut sedge (or nut grass, as we call it here). Time for your monthly critter report! The usual little culprits are still out there causing destruction: aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, etc. But now some new players are entering the game: caterpillars, grubs, and worms! Webworms in your trees look like something from a horror movie! Be on the lookout and treat them early to avoid severe damage. Your local nursery can help with what kind of treatment you need. Always bring in pictures or dead bodies to help move forward with your eradication mission. Remember, life began in a garden!
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IT MAY BE SEPTEMBER, BUT IN TEXAS, WE STILL FEEL THE HEAT!
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Tasty Bites Fall-off-the-Bone Instant Pot Ribs
Piney Woods | September 2026
INGREDIENTS
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½ cup brown sugar ¼ cup chili powder 1 Tbs dried parsley 2 tsp salt 2 tsp garlic powder 2 tsp ground black pepper 2 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp onion powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 2 small or medium racks baby back ribs, membranes removed 1 cup water ½ cup apple cider vinegar 1 (12 oz) bottle barbecue sauce
DIRECTIONS
Step 1: Mix brown sugar, chili powder, parsley, salt, garlic powder, pepper, cumin, onion powder, and paprika together in a bowl using a fork, breaking up any large clumps. Step 2: Rub spice mixture over both sides of ribs. Step 3: Place a steam rack inside a multi-functional pressure cooker. Pour water and cider vinegar into the bottom of the pot. Step 4: Lower ribs into the pot (with bones vertical) by curving them around the edge. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer’s instructions; set the timer for 25 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build. Step 5: Release pressure carefully using the quickrelease method according to manufacturer’s instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Step 6: Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven’s broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; place ribs on the foil. Top with barbecue sauce. Step 7: Broil ribs until sauce is bubbling, about 3 minutes.
Tasty Bites Green Bean Casserole Remix INGREDIENTS
Piney Woods | September 2026
2 (9 oz) pkgs frozen cut green beans, thawed 10 slices bacon 10 small fresh mushrooms, chopped ½ tsp garlic powder ½ tsp onion powder 1 cup half-and-half cream ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese salt and pepper to taste
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DIRECTIONS
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place green beans into a 1 quart or similar sized casserole dish. Step 2: Fry bacon in a large deep skillet over mediumhigh heat until browned and crispy. Remove to
drain on paper towels. Drain off some of the grease, leaving enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Add mushrooms to the grease in the pan and season with garlic powder and onion powder. Cook and stir until tender, about 4 minutes. Step 3: Pour the half-and-half into the pan with the mushrooms and stir to scrape the bacon flavor from the bottom of the pan. Simmer until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Pour this mixture over the green beans. Crumble bacon over the top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Step 4: Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the sauce is bubbling and the top is toasted.
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Tasty Bites Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef
Piney Woods | September 2026
INGREDIENTS
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1 beef bouillon cube 1 cup warm water ½ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce, or to taste ⅓ cup brown sugar 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbs sesame oil 1 ½ lbs beef sirloin, cut into 1-inch strips 2 Tbs cornstarch 2 lbs broccoli florets, or to taste 2 cups cooked jasmine rice 1 Tbs sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Step 1: Crumble beef bouillon cube into warm water in a bowl and stir to dissolve. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and sesame oil and stir to dissolve sugar. Step 2: Place beef strips into a slow cooker crock. Pour sauce mixture over beef. Cover and cook until beef is tender enough to cut with a spoon, on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours. Step 3: Spoon 2 tablespoons liquid from the slow cooker into a bowl. Whisk cornstarch into the liquid and stir the cornstarch mixture into the liquid in the slow cooker until evenly combined. Cook on high until the sauce thickens, about 30 minutes. Step 4: Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Cook broccoli in covered steamer until tender, 2 to 6 minutes; add to sauce in slow cooker and stir to coat. Step 5: Serve beef and broccoli with sauce over portions of cooked jasmine rice and garnish with sesame seeds.
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Tasty Bites Chewy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
Piney Woods | September 2026
INGREDIENTS
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½ cup butter, softened ½ cup peanut butter ½ cup white sugar ½ cup packed light brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 large egg ¾ cup all-purpose flour ½ tsp baking soda ¼ tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 1 cup quick-cooking oats 3 Tbs butter, softened 1 cup powdered sugar ½ cup smooth peanut butter 2 ½ Tbs heavy whipping cream
DIRECTIONS
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Step 2: Beat 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup peanut butter, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl until light and creamy. Add egg and beat until fully incorporated. Step 3: Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in oats until evenly incorporated. Step 4: Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten each mound with a fork to form 1/4-inch-thick cookies. Step 5: Bake in the preheated oven until edges are lightly browned and centers are set, about 10 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets briefly before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. Step 6: To make the filling: Cream 3 tablespoons butter with powdered sugar, 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, and heavy whipping cream. Spread filling onto half of the cooled cookies, then top with the remaining cookies to form sandwiches.
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INSPIRATIONS
Nick Stevens
What if being a granddad isn’t simply a stage of life, but a calling to bless, guide, and shape the generations that follow? STORY BY WES ALTOM | SUBMITTED PHOTOS
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ick Stevens grew up in Texas and began his career by serving as a youth minister at a Houston area church and teaching math in high school just down the road in Spring, Texas. Even though he grew into a primary career with 40 plus years of experience in IT and project management, teaching has remained a passion, both within that career field and with periods of college-level instruction and serving as an adjunct professor. He has deep-rooted faith. While he credits this in part to coming from a family of ministers, Nick has leaned into God through multiple tragedies in his life that may have caused others to distance themselves. When he was 25, he lost his minister father in a plane crash. His daughter Lygon was killed in an avalanche in the mountains of Colorado, and his first wife Sarah died after a battle with cancer. After Lygon’s death, he powerfully opined, “If we can’t keep an eternal perspective and find joy through these trials, our faith means nothing.” He knows through experience that Jesus does some of his best work in storms. Nick has a passion for fatherhood and for helping others understand the fatherly nature of God. For years, he has taught studies and spoken publicly on the subject. More recently, that passion took on a new focus as he explored the unique role of grandfathers, leading him to write his first book, The Art of Being Granddad.
September 2026 | Piney Woods
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Piney Woods | September 2026
First things first. After this amount of time, do you still consider yourself a Texan? I consider my roots are Texan, very much. I have been in Colorado for 30 years. And then if you tack on 15 in Montana, the Rocky Mountains are more my home than anywhere else. And now with my daughter and late wife both buried in Estes Park, Colorado, Colorado is definitely where I want to stay.
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Why a book on the role of grandfathers? In the Bible, we see the idea that a father leads the family and sets a vision for who his family will be. That combination of the history of fatherhood, along with becoming a granddad, and then seeing the absence of any material about grandfathers and what that role is, all those things just came together into the message of this book. I have conversations with multiple granddads who repeatedly talk about how nothing in their life has been more satisfying or brought so much joy as being granddad. And I would ask them, “What does the role of granddad look like?” And they just kind of roll up their shoulders and say, “I don’t know what the role is. I just go along with Grandma.” I think it is a unique perspective from the standpoint of trying to focus on the men and the masculine role. That’s not talked about at all really in our culture, period. God did not create parents. He created fathers and mothers. And that’s a different thing altogether. So, what’s the role of granddad? Other than going along with grandma, whatever she wants to do, and being friends with the kids, no one knows how to describe granddad’s role. But it’s much more important than that. Legacies are more important than that. You must get beyond what grandma wants to do to get to legacy. Nick pauses the phone interview for a moment and apologizes for the noise in the background, explaining (with appropriate timing), “That destruction you hear in the background…we’re watching our grandkids right now.” I see so much power in intergenerational conversation. A 25-year-old father often doesn’t have enough life experience to have the right
perspective. Granddads specifically have a different perspective about life’s priorities than they did when they were 30. They admit it. And nine times out of ten, those men—successful men, powerful men—will tell me, “If I had to do it over, I would spend more time with my family.” That is just one illustration of the perspective a a grandfather can bring to a father who hasn’t yet lived long enough to gain the wisdom that comes from years of listening to Father God. You point out, “This is not the art of being a granddad. It’s the art of being Granddad. Expand on that. The distinction there is this thing I call identity. When I held my granddaughter for the first time, there was this realization that I changed. I love this role. And the people who love me the most in the world now are these grandkids. They don’t know who Nick Stevens is. They only know who Pawpaw is. Pawpaw is this identity. And it changes how I live my life a little bit. It is this transition from “not a description of things I’m supposed to do or things I can do,” but it’s this identity of what I need to represent now in this intergenerational family. I’ve entered into this role, this position God has given me as the oldest man in our family, with a responsibility for the heritage and legacy of who our family is. So being a grandfather has become an identity for me, rather than simply a description of what I do. One thing that immediately drew
me to your writing was the “tools” at the end of the chapters…that is gold—taking it from thinking about it to doing something about it. My writing coach said very early on, “Nick, whenever we’re in a conversation, I just get excited with what you’re talking about. And then I read your book and I’m like, ‘This is boring.’ She said, “You’ve got to learn how to pontificate less and paint more.” And that just has stuck in my soul deeply, because I have pontificated throughout my life. Anybody that knows me knows I can talk all night long. Learning to “paint more” shaped a
couple of things in the book. Part of it was helping granddads learn how to tell their own stories, but I also wanted to illustrate what these ideas actually look like in real life. That led me to gather as many examples as I could from other men. As I read their stories and experiences, I began organizing them into practical tools that a granddad could use for a specific purpose rather than simply read and move on.
Nick and his wife Cindy
Do you have a secret to offer on hearing the voice of the Spirit? That is a beautiful and deep and powerful conversation or question. I’ve walked in different church faiths, so I’ve seen a lot of different people’s perspective about that question. We know that we are spirit, created in the image of God, and that He lives with us. But we also live in these fleshly bodies. To me, it’s like this earthly body is a rock concert, and I’m trying to listen to a quiet voice whispering to me in this rock concert. It is really, really hard. For me, I hear Him most clearly in the mountains. I have climbed over twenty 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado. When I’m there, away from all the noise, I begin sensing things within me that are life-giving and help me understand what I am supposed to
do and what really matters. It’s not necessarily something my brain has come up with. It’s something coming from my spirit. Spirit recognizes spirit. I believe there is something about the role of a father—and, as generations continue, the role of a grandfather— that reflects something of the nature of God. If we as men can learn to live that out well, we have the opportunity to impact generations. And I believe our God, who is Spirit, desires to be known as Father. He wants our culture, all of mankind, to know that He is available to us as a good Father. As I’ve listened for HIs Spirit, He has given me many of the words and ideas you see in the book. Nick and his wife Cindy live in Loveland, Colorado. Together, they have six children and seven grandchildren, whom Nick lovingly refers to as “the stars in my crown.” His book, The Art of Being Granddad: 7 Blessings Your Family Needs from You, is available on Amazon. Learn more at nickstevensauthor.com.
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to his grandchildren. To me, there is a progression there that parallels childhood development. These qualities build on one other sequentially, and I believe the order matters.
September 2026 | Piney Woods
What do you have planned for future projects? I have started collecting stories for a future work, The Art of Granddad’s Bedtime Stories. Anyone can tell bedtime stories, but I think this will be more fun and effective as far as relationship building. I also have another book in mind on the Apostle Peter and childhood development. When he wrote 2 Peter, his letter to the churches, I think he was Granddad. I want to explore his words through that lens; as a granddad talking to his children and passing wisdom on to generations coming behind him. Peter writes, “Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control…and continues through what I see as eight building blocks of character. I have a lot of material around the idea of Granddad Peter passing those principles on
Giggles & Grins A friend of mine, a pharmacy technician, had a wild encounter at work. An upset customer stormed into the pharmacy, loudly complaining about a medication he had just bought. He claimed it tasted horrible and refused to take it, demanding a refund. The technician explained that, by law, prescription medications couldn't be returned. After a tense back-and-forth, he offered to check the medicine.
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That perspective is what led Breanna to create Maichel Retirement Solutions. “I really had to offer more than just one product because there is no one product that fits everybody’s needs,” Breanna said. “And so that’s when we decided to form our own agency.” Breanna’s path into the retirement industry began as a captive insurance agent in Abilene, Texas, where she represented one company. As she met with more people, she began to see just how different everyone’s circumstances were. “Everybody has different needs: some people are living on their Social Security check, and some people have saved millions of dollars for their retirement. Everybody’s doctors are different. Everybody’s medications are different,” she said. The more people she worked with, the more she
realized that helping someone prepare for retirement required looking at the whole person, not just one policy. Seeing the Person Behind the Policy For many people, retirement planning can feel like a maze of unfamiliar terms, government programs, and decisions that seem to carry permanent consequences. Medicare alone can involve multiple coverage options and enrollment periods. Social Security decisions can affect a person’s income for the rest of their life. Retirement accounts that took decades to build suddenly must become a source of income. And then there are the things nobody can predict. Breanna remembers one client who initially declined a prescription drug plan because of the additional cost. Later, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and his medication costs eventually reached approximately $10,000 per month out of pocket. Stories like that have reinforced
Breanna’s belief that good planning is about looking beyond what makes sense today and considering what could happen tomorrow. “There are so many moving parts when it comes to Medicare,” she said. “It’s so important to sit with somebody who knows the landscape of Medicare, how it works, all of its facets.” That same philosophy carries into the rest of her work. As people approach retirement, Breanna considers more than just their Medicare coverage. She talks with clients about Social Security, retirement savings, income needs, and the coverage they may need as they get older. She also helps clients review the money they have accumulated over their working years. “You can create your own pension, and a lot of people don’t realize that
they can do that,” she said. “Sometimes an individual’s 401(k) will sit there, and they draw off of that without moving it. But you really want to do something with it, to PROTECT what you’ve saved and worked so hard for.” Education Before Enrollment One of the things Breanna has come to value most in her work is education. Before discussing coverage, she and her team sit down with clients and learn what they already have in place. They look at medical, dental, vision, long-term care and life insurance, as well as income and retirement assets. The goal is to understand where someone is starting before talking about where they should go. That is especially important when dealing with Medicare and Social Security, where a seemingly small decision can have long-term consequences. “If you make a mistake on something like Social Security, it can be very hard to fix,” Breanna said. “Sometimes you can’t fix it. We look at all of those different factors as you’re getting close to retirement.” Breanna also understands how frustrating the process can be. “You’ve got three different government systems that are all talking to each other, and there are so many flaws which can cause a disconnect,” she said. “It’s definitely a bear working with the different government agencies for sure.” Her role, as she sees it, is to help make that process less intimidating. “We walk with you through the entire process,” Breanna said. “I’m going to guide you, but ultimately, we’re going to enroll you in the plans that you want to be in.” The Importance of Having Someone You Know Breanna’s approach has become especially meaningful as misinformation and scams have become more common in the Medicare and retirement industry. She has recently heard from several clients who received phone calls claiming their Medicare coverage had not been renewed for 2027. “People don’t realize that Medicare will never call,” she said. “Scammers are trying to get you to verify your information so that they can enroll you in a plan that may or may not make sense for you.” For Breanna, those calls are another reminder of
why having someone local matters. She wants her clients to know they have a real person to call, not just a number on a screen or a voice from a call center. She is a local business owner, a mother, and a member of the same community as the people she serves. That personal connection is part of what she believes sets her work apart. “I run across people all the time who have talked to somebody over the phone because they received an unsolicited call from someone presenting themselves as Medicare. They got tricked into a plan that they didn’t know the full capacity of until they had a medical issue and had to use it,” she said. Those decisions can have consequences that extend far beyond the policy itself. “They have quality-of-life issues and have access-tocare issues,” Breanna said. “Because of that, we treat every client we sit with as if they were our own family.” Doing What Is Right for the Client Breanna does not believe every client needs to change what they already have. In fact, she is willing to tell someone when their current coverage is the better option. Her team can review existing policies alongside other available options, looking at coverage and cost. The purpose is to help clients understand their choices rather than push them toward a particular decision. “We’re here to help you find what is best and then help you with that enrollment process,” she said. That philosophy is rooted in something simple for Breanna: she wants to be able to stand behind the advice she gives. “I don’t ever push somebody one way or the other,” she said. “We tell people, ‘I’m going to do the best thing for you based on your circumstances.” Over the years, that mindset has made Maichel Retirement Solutions more than just an insurance agency. The business helps people navigate Medicare, retirement income, Social Security and other areas of planning that become important as they move into the next stage of life.
But for Breanna, the heart of the work remains the same as it was when she first started sitting down with clients: listening to people and helping them make decisions that best fits their lives. As Maichel Retirement Solutions continues to grow in East Texas, Breanna hopes to remain the kind of person her clients can turn to when they have questions, need help understanding their options or simply want someone in their corner. “I have to sleep at night,” she said. “And my clients can sleep well at night also.” Maichel Retirement Solutions can be reached at 936-701-0064. More information is available at www.maichelretirementsolutions.com.
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1. What's the best kind of tree joke? Acorny one. 2. What did the acorn say to the nosy squirrel? There's nuttin' to see here. 3. What do you get when you eat too many apple cider donuts? You get autumny ache.
Answer: First Crossword: Across: RETRY, TOE, KAYAK Down: METAL, TOY, CREAM Second Crossword: Across: MOOSE, RAT, BAKER Down: CORAL, OAK, ASTER
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Knock, knock. Who's there? Leaf. Leaf who? Leaf me alone, I'm trying to tell a joke!
If You’ve Been Told “There’s Nothing More We Can Do” About Your Nerve Pain, Read This Before You Accept That As Your Final Answer An Open Letter to Huntsville Residents Suffering With Numbness, Burning, or Tingling in the Feet, From a Clinic That’s Treated This Community for Over 40 Years Dear Friend,
• Relief from inflammation. Swelling squeezes the nerve like a fist. No pill reaches down and loosens that grip.
I’m going to say something your doctor probably won’t. The pills you’ve been handed for your neuropathy were never designed to fix your nerves. Gabapentin. Lyrica. Cymbalta. Every one of them does the exact same thing, they turn down the pain signal in your brain. That’s it. They don’t touch the actual nerve that’s damaged. Which is exactly why the burning always finds its way back. You already know this. You’ve lived it. You’ve taken the pills exactly as prescribed and watched yourself get a little worse every year anyway. Here’s the part nobody sat you down and explained: a nerve that’s damaged, not dead, can often improve, when it finally gets three things it’s been starving for. Most doctors never address even one of them. We built our entire approach around all three. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT TOM. Tom R. hadn’t felt the bottom of his feet in six years. Not “a little numb.” The kind of numb where you’re not sure your foot is really on the brake pedal. The kind of burning that keeps going even under a soft blanket at 2 am. He did everything he was told. Gabapentin left him foggy. Lyrica put 15 pounds on him. A round of shots bought him one good week, then nothing. His specialist gave him the line so many Huntsville patients have heard in that same office chair: “You’ll likely just have to manage this long term.” Tom quit his morning walks. Quit his Saturday golf game. And he almost sat out his own son’s wedding dance, because he no longer trusted his own feet to hold him up on a dance floor in front of everyone he loved. That’s the moment. That’s when something has to change. His sister-in-law told him about a clinic just down the road that had been treating Huntsville families since before he was married. He almost didn’t call. Six years of disappointment will do that to a person.
• The right kind of gentle stimulation, delivered consistently, to help support the nerve’s own ability to recover function over time. Skip even one of these, and you’re managing symptoms forever instead of addressing what’s actually happening. By Tom’s third visit, the burning in his legs had already started easing up. By week four, he slept through an entire night for the first time in years. By week eight, feeling was coming back, first his heels, then the rest of his feet. He walked to his mailbox and back without holding the porch rail. First time in six years. Eleven weeks after that first phone call, Tom danced at his son’s wedding. No cane. No hesitation. No fear. WHY LISTEN TO US? Dr. Brian McGee, DC has practiced for over 20 years and this clinic has served local families for more than four decades, long enough to have treated your neighbors, your coworkers, maybe your own relatives. We didn’t get that kind of longevity by managing people. We got it by helping them get better. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CALL You’ll be scheduled for a complete Neuropathy Relief Evaluation, the exact same evaluation Tom received. This includes: • A full nerve and circulation exam • Sensory and reflex testing • A one-on-one consultation to identify what’s likely causing your specific symptoms • A straight answer on whether our approach is a good fit for you, no pressure, no obligation
He’s glad he picked up the phone anyway.
New patient evaluation: $47. We keep monthly appointments limited so every patient gets real one-on-one time, call ahead to check current availability.
Tom’s name has been changed to protect his privacy. His story reflects a real patient case. Individual results vary, and not every patient will see the same outcome.
You’ve already spent years managing this. You don’t have anything to lose by spending twenty minutes finding out if there’s a better answer.
THE THREE THINGS YOUR NERVES ARE STARVING FOR • Blood flow. Most neuropathy patients have poor circulation reaching the small nerves in the feet and hands. A starved nerve cannot function the way it should.
Call 936-291-2111 Now. Don't Talk Yourself Out of It. P.S. Here's the truth about nerves: the longer damage goes unaddressed, the narrower your window to see real improvement. That's not a sales line, it's just how nerves work. If you've been putting this off for another month, another year, ask yourself how many more mornings you're willing to wake up numb before you make one phone call. 936-291-2111. *This article is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for personalized advice or treatment. This is a paid advertisement.Excludes beneficiaries of federally funded programs PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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5 6 3 8 8 5 9 9 7 3 4 5 5 7 2 1 6 4 3 9 6 5 5 6 9 3 2 1 9 4 7 4 1 5
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Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9. If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork.
Visit our Conroe office for adult medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, psychological counseling and osteopathic manipulative treatment services.
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BUSINESS FOCUS
First Financial Bank of Huntsville STORY BY ALLIE PLUNK | PHOTOS BY TOM MILLER
Postcards
70 Cultivating commitment that goes beyond banking.
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or nearly sixteen years, First Financial Bank has served the Huntsville community with a philosophy that places relationships ahead of transactions. I had the privilege of sitting down with Kyle Whisenhunt, Senior Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer, and Laurie Morgan, Vice President and Branch Manager, to discuss the bank’s growth, its commitment to customer service, and the role it continues to play in the community it calls home.
Laurie Morgan, Vice President and Branch Manager
morning, every employee gathers to review and discuss the bank’s twentyone “non-negotiables” – core principles that include professionalism, ownership, responsibility, trust, and accountability. These daily conversations help ensure that every customer interaction reflects the same standard of care, regardless of which department or employee they encounter. The goal is to create an environment where customers feel
welcomed, valued, and confident that their financial needs are being handled by people who genuinely care. Rather than viewing customers simply as accountholders, First Financial encourages employees to know the people behind the accounts— to remember birthdays, ask about families, celebrate milestones, and be present during life’s challenges. Those personal connections transform everyday banking into
Don Rast, Naomi Lozoya, Maci Parish, Laurie Morgan, Kyle Whisenhunt, Sandra Hammond, Diana Estrada, Mari Nava, and Araselly Alfaro
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Kyle Whisenhunt, Senior Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer
September 2026 | Piney Woods
During the last sixteen years, First Financial Bank has experienced tremendous growth. In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank surpassed $10 billion in assets: a milestone that brought new regulations and operational changes. While growth on that scale can often create distance between a financial institution and its customers, Whisenhunt and Morgan emphasized that maintaining a personal, hometown approach has remained a top priority. Through monthly training sessions and daily team meetings, employees continually reinforce the values that have defined the bank since its arrival in Huntsville. At the heart of First Financial Bank is a simple philosophy: customer service comes first. Before the doors open each
PROFESSIONALISM OWNERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY TRUST ACCOUNTABILITY AVAILABILITY COMMUNICATION DIVERSITY INCLUSION ATTENTIVE TEAM WELCOMING EMPOWERED RESPONSIVE SMILES
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lasting relationships built on trust. Sometimes, that commitment to hospitality is as simple as offering customers a serving of complimentary ice cream on Fridays, creating another opportunity to slow down, visit, and strengthen those relationships. That same spirit of service extends well beyond the walls of the bank. First Financial Bank actively supports numerous local organizations and initiatives, including CASA, Sam Houston State University football's popular “First Financial First Down” at games, and many other community events throughout the year. Employees are encouraged to volunteer their time and talents, reinforcing the bank’s belief that investing in a community means more than providing financial services. Perhaps no tradition better illustrates that commitment than the bank’s Annual Day of Service. Each Columbus Day, First Financial Bank closes its offices so employees across the company can spend the day completing community service projects. Recent efforts in Huntsville have included partnering with SAAFE
House of Huntsville to help improve the shelter that provides safety and support for women and children impacted by domestic violence. It is a tradition reflecting the bank’s belief that serving the community sometimes means putting on work gloves instead of business attire. While technology continues to reshape the banking industry, First Financial Bank has embraced innovation without sacrificing the personal touch that customers have come to expect. Expanded digital and remote banking options provide greater convenience while allowing customers to continue receiving individualized service whenever they need it. As the bank continues to grow, adding new employees and expanding its services, its focus remains firmly rooted in building relationships one customer at a time. For Morgan and Whisenhunt, that people-first approach is what makes their work meaningful. Whether they’re helping someone prevent fraud, guiding a family through purchasing a home, financing a local business, or
simply offering advice during an important life decision, they see banking as an opportunity to help people move one step closer to achieving their goals. It’s that commitment to serving both customers and the community that has helped First Financial Bank become more than a financial institution in Huntsville; it has become a trusted neighbor.
Forty-five years following Texas’ statehood, Farmers and Merchants National Bank (First Financial Bank) opened in Abilene in 1890, founded to provide critical support for a region essential to the state’s rapid economic growth. The bank played a vital role in the early days - and continues today - in the food, fuel and fiber industries that drive our state’s economy. First Financial Bank has grown from a small regional bank to a nationally-respected, statewide industry leader with 80 locations…all in Texas. Proud of their Texas roots, their goal is to continue serving Texans with the same determination and vision the founders displayed many years ago.
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ost people consider cicadas loud and more than a little creepy. They spend years underground, emerge looking like something from a science fiction movie, then scream from the treetops as if they have been personally wronged. Fortunately for those who are not cicada fans, one impressive backyard predator is happy to do something about them: the eastern cicada killer wasp, also known as the cicada hawk. Of course, the name “cicada killer wasp” does little to improve its image. Any insect with both “killer” and “wasp” in its name sounds like something best avoided at all costs. Despite its intimidating name and impressive size, the cicada killer is far more interested in hunting cicadas than people. They rarely attack people, and their sting is considered to be very mild. Cicada killer wasps are one of the largest species of wasp, ranging from .06 inches to 2 inches in length. Their wings are brownish amber in color, and they have yellow markings on several segments of their abdomen. Unlike social wasps that build paper nests, cicada killers are solitary wasps that nest underground, usually in sunny areas with dry, loose, sandy soil. In late June, males emerge from underground and wait nearby for the females, usually a week or two later. Once mated, a female chooses a nesting site and digs a burrow about half an inch wide and roughly 10 inches deep, with several small chambers branching off the main tunnel. Peak hunting takes place in July and August. Only females hunt, because the males don’t have stingers. She captures a cicada, stings it, and injects venom that leaves it alive, but completely paralyzed. Because the cicada may weigh far more than the wasp, carrying it back to the burrow is a truly Herculean feat. She drags or flies with her oversized prey, places it inside one of the underground chambers, and lays an egg on it. A chamber may contain as many as three cicadas before the female seals it. The egg hatches within two or three days, and this is where the story becomes a little gruesome. The developing larva feeds on the still-living but paralyzed cicada for the next two or three weeks, gradually consuming it. Once fully grown,
By Cheryl Conley
Lake Creek Nature Preserve Board of Directors
the larva spins a silk-like cocoon and enters a dormant stage called diapause, remaining underground through the winter. It emerges as an adult the following summer, while the previous generation of adult cicada killers dies off by early fall. Despite being creepy-looking and having a scary name, cicada killer wasps are beneficial to our environment. Both males and females feed on flower nectar and help pollinate plants. By hunting cicadas, females help maintain a natural balance in the ecosystem. Their underground burrows can loosen and aerate the soil. Cicada killers may never win a backyard popularity contest, but they deserve more respect than fear. Their size, name, and hunting habits make them easy to misunderstand, yet they are simply doing what nature designed them to do. So, the next time one cruises past you carrying a cicada nearly as large as itself, take a moment to appreciate the effort— and be grateful you are not on the menu.
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Your Best Agrilife Butterflies & Pollinators
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utterflies enchant us with their striking colors and elegant flight. They stand for change and optimism across various cultures. Observing them as they move from blossom to blossom is visually pleasing and highlights nature’s complex web of relationships. Beyond their charm, butterflies are vital pollinators; they fertilize plants by transferring pollen while feeding. This process helps countless flowering plants reproduce, making butterflies key players in supporting garden biodiversity and sustainability. Pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and even beneficial beetles are drawn to the same flowering plants that attract butterflies. Their presence contributes to the overall health and productivity of your garden, fostering pollination that leads to more abundant fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Creating a habitat for butterflies enriches your entire ecosystem, supporting a diverse community of pollinators that work together to sustain vibrant plants. The Walker County Master Gardeners Association (WCMG) are excited to highlight their work this year in revitalizing various flower and vegetable gardens. They aim to build an inviting environment for butterflies and other pollinators, which supports plant reproduction and encourages more biodiversity as part of broader ecological goals. WCMG organization invites you to stroll through our gardens and take in the vibrant colors and fragrances that fill the air. Discover the thoughtful enhancements that reflect the dedication of the Walker County Master Gardeners. From the abundant vegetable beds to the elegantly renewed rose garden, each area offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature, learn about sustainable gardening, and celebrate the vital role pollinators play in our community’s well-being. Autumn in Southeast Texas is characterized by a striking array of perennial plants, which remain prominent throughout the season. These nectar-rich blooms attract butterflies during the fall, contributing both to the visual appeal of the landscape and the health of local ecosystems. Perennials are plants that return each year. Example of perennial plants are as follows: Gregg’s Mistflower is a perennial native that forms purpleblue blooms in late summer and fall, providing nectar for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, notably queen butterflies, monarchs, and swallowtails.
Mexican Bush Sage is a drought-resistant, compact plant with velvety purple and white flowers that attract bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Native Turk’s Cap blooms with vibrant, eye-catching red flowers throughout summer and autumn. The nectar-filled blossoms draw in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Autumn Sage produces a colorful shrub that blooms from spring through fall, offering a long nectar supply for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These four native Texas plants provide nectar for many pollinators and are ideal for a regional pollinator garden. They will be available at the WCMG fall sale. This fall, WCMG will offer new opportunities: The Fall Plant Sale on October 10th from 8 am to 1 pm. The sale will provide a variety of perennial plants, succulent and fruit trees for gardeners and nature enthusiasts. Additional offerings include rose bushes, hibiscus tropical plants, various seeds, and we are hosting a bake sale. Funds from the bake sale proceeds will be given to the Sandy Tykol Scholarship, which supports county high school seniors pursuing horticulture or agriculture. The Butterfly and Pollinator Festival is on October 24th from 9 am to noon, weather permitting. At this free event, attendees of all ages can learn about butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Children will have access to crafts, storytelling, and face painting, while adults can explore vendor stalls and listen to expert presentations. The gardens of WCMG volunteers are being transformed into an energetic hub for community involvement, environmental stewardship, and admiration for pollinators. As autumn nears, this work ensures not only vibrant seasonal displays, but also chances for education, relationship building, and greater respect for how butterflies and pollinators contribute to our ecosystem.
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Galveston Island Wine Festival
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or I have provided me a king. 1 Samuel 16:1
God has rejected Saul and is sending Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint another king. Notice what God told Samuel, “I have provided me a king.” God did the choosing, God did the guiding, and God did the blessing. Seven sons passed before Samuel, but the Lord had not chosen one of them to be king. “Are these all your children?”, Samuel asked Jesse. Jesse replies, “There is the youngest, and he is keeping the sheep.” The youngest, the sheep keeper, had not been invited to the lineup. Pay close attention to that last sentence…not invited. When David came before Samuel, God spoke, saying, “Arise, anoint him.” This youngest son, overlooked by his father and brothers, but not overlooked by God. When he came before Samuel, he still had the smell of the desert and sheep. In the field with the sheep is where God formed David, and by tending sheep, he learned how to be the king God anointed. Before he held a harp in his hands, he held a shepherd’s staff and a sling. God shapes his chosen in the fields before he reveals them to the public. It was in the fields tending sheep where God trained him for battles not yet seen. Paul may have had this story in mind when he wrote 1 Corinthians 1: 26-29. For ye see your calling, brethren, how not many men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. Do you feel uninvited, overlooked, or stuck in the field doing the lowly tasks? If so, remember this story about David and look up, for you were put here for a purpose. So, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on, the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. 1 Samuel 16:13 Anointed King, but David went back to the field with the sheep. Why…maybe because David was too young to be a king? Or maybe it was because God was still molding David. Alone with the sheep, David could think, talk to God, and be fed spiritually by God. He could lie on his back on the cool grass at night, look at the stars, and see the wonders of God. Here he could be still and come to know God…and learn how to call on and praise Him. David learned that oil drips in low places before it pours on the head to be crowned.
! Covenant Fellowship Early Worship: Sunday Mornings, 9:00 am • Bible Study: Sunday Mornings, 10:00 am Late Service: Sunday Mornings, 11:00 am Lead Pastor: David Valentine So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. ~ Ezra 8:23
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